DIGITAL EDITION

Raster's Daytona Printer

(September 2005) posted on Wed Sep 21, 2005

New flatbed can handle media up to 1-in. thick.

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Speed is the key to the Daytona from Raster Printers. The 4-color 72-in. flatbed and roll-to-roll printer can accommodate media up to 1-in. thick, and features speeds up to 600 sq ft/hr printing at a true 600 dpi or 180 sq ft/hr in "quality" mode.

Customers can choose between two Spectra S Class printheads at time of purchase: 30-pl SE or 50-pl SM printheads. The 30-pl drops produce 600 x 600-dpi images with excellent detail, says Raster; the 50-pl SM-128 printhead can print in 600 x 600-dpi mode with a slight loss of detail, but permits higher speed 300 x 300-dpi printing for production of up to 600 sq ft/hr.

The Daytona features two printheads per color, for a total of eight, as well as a dual UV Lamp Curing system for faster curing of the inks on coated and uncoated rolled and rigid media. The printer is suitable for printing indoor and outdoor graphics. Its UV-curable inks offer excellent fade-resistance for outdoor applications, reports the company.

Each printhead can be individually flushed with cleaning fluid by flipping a valve. With the purchase of Onyx PosterShop or ProductionHouse RIP and a Mikkelson i-cut module, graphics can be automatically cut after printing.

Price: $62,900, shipping now. Owners of Raster's RP-720UV can field upgrade these machines to the new high-speed Daytona. (Raster Printers: www.rasterprinters.com)